Metal processing apparatus



Slept. 8,1936. H. AfFoSBuRG 2,053,279 METAL PROQESSING APPARATUS A l Filed May 22, 1933 4 Z'Sheets-Sheet 1 X vw u u T HH HH Sept. 8, 1936.

H. A. FosBuRG METAL PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed May 22,' 1953 nFEn C12- H/LDOR A 'FaSI/As v Uf mw u* p b .,JNN

YYYPatentetl'Sept. 8, 1936` UNITE-n AsiA'rEs PATENT OFFICE 2,053,219 METAL PROCESSING APPARATUS minor A. Fosburg, Glen Ellyn, nl.

Application-May 22, 1

s claims.

This invention relates to metal processing apparatus and will be described as incorporated in an apparatus which is adapted'to operate upon a continuous strip of metal, particularly for the 5 removal of oil therefrom, and subsequently etching, washing, and drying the metal to prepare it for a subsequent plating or tinning operation. In the processof cold rolling of sheet metal, o il used on the rolls becomes forced into the surface of the metal, and must be removed before 'the metal is annealed to prevent smudging and permit the metal to be successfully plated. Also. metall sheets with etched surfaces will not stick together when annealed in a stack.

An object of this invention is the provision of apparatus capable of processing a strip of metal passing through the apparatus at a relatively high speed, for the purpose of removing oil from the metal and subsequently etching the v metal to 20 facilitate subsequent annealing and plating operations. A further object is the provision of an improved lelectrolytic device for operating upon a continuous stripof metal passing therethrough whereby etching and oil removing operations may be carried out with extreme uniformity' and in a minimum of time. A further object is the provision of such an electrolytic device which is adapted for operation 30 by the use of a low voltage, the construction of the anode being such that polarization is obviated, thereby reducing the necessary voltage and insuring uniformity of operation'upon the metal strip. 'y

i l Other objects and advan'tagesof this invention will become apparent' to those skilled in the art. from the following detail description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration'of a metal processing apparatus' incorporating this invention.

Figure 2 is a electrolytic devices employed apparatus. l

Figure 3 vis an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of-a portion of the device shown'in Fig ure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical IVe-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on substantially the line V-V of Figure 3.-

As shown on the drawings:

A general diagrammatic layout top plan illustration of one of thev in, the processing section taken on the line :of the procoi' the metal, if not first removed.

cess washing electrolysis, causing essing apparatus for the treatment of a strip of 93s, Senn No. evans-'i (ci. 2114-) f rolled metal is illustrated in Figure l. The strip of metal 1 to be treated is mounted i n rolled condition on the reel 5 from which it passes through a splicing machine` 8 which may be utilized for connecting together strips of metal to make a 6' continuous strip for passing through the subsequent units of the processing apparatus. The strip of metal 1, as v it enters the processing apparatus,v is coated with oil from the machine by which it was rolled. In order that the strip 1 10 may be successfully plated, it is imperative that the oil be completely removed before the strip is annealed; otherwise, the oil is burned into the sheet, leaving a carbon smut which will prevent plating or tinning of the sheet.

For the purpose of removing a large proportion of the excess oil, there is provided a power washer 6 which comprises a tank adapted t0 contain a suitable washing iluid maintained at a desired temperature by heating coils 9 and sprayed upon 20 the strip 1 from spray pipes Il which also support brushing elements for washing and scrubb ing the metal as it passes therethrough. At the exit of the washer are disposed cooperating wringer rolls I2 for removing the excess washing 25 uid from the strip 1.

After passing through the preliminary washer 6, where it is subjected to a preliminary washing operation, the strip metal passesthrough an electrblytic device designated generally by numeral 30 I4. In this device the strip metal passes through a second washing uid whichl acts upon the metal by electrolysis for completely removing all of the remaining oil which may have soaked into microscopic pores of the metal in a manner that it 35 cannot be removed by a scrubbing operation, but which is suflicient to prevent successful plating The strip 1. upon leaving the electrolytic device I4, again passes through a set of rolls I2 for removing ex- 40 fluid from the metal.

the remainder of the cleaning For removing above the rinse tank I5.

through a second electro- 45 brushes I3 disposed The strip 1 next passes lytic device Il within which it is acted upon by the surface of the metal to be etched to facilitate the adherence of plating material and to prevent the sticking together -of adjacent sheets of the metal when heated for the purpose of annealing. When the metal stripv emerges from the second electrolytic device Il, it passes through another set of wringer vrolls I2 and is acted. uponby a second set oi spray rinse brushes I3 disposed above av tank I5. The metal, 56

having been cleaned and etched, next passes through a hot water rinse tank I1 and through wringer rolls I2 and a suitable wiping device I 8 from which it emerges in a thoroughly dried condition, because of the heat retained by the metal after passing through the hot water rinse tank The strip 1 is now in condition to be rewound upon the reel 2I which, if desired, may also serve as the pulling means for drawing the strip of metal continuously through the entire processing apparatus.

Ihe specific construction of the electrolytic device I4 is illustrated more in detail in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5. This device comprises a tank 22 which may be of any desired length necessary to provide the required time of operation upon the strip 'I with the strip passing through the tank at a predetermined speed. The tank 22 used for the cleaning operation is preferably supplied with a suitable electrolyte for the purpose and I preferably employ a solution containing three and one-half ounces of soda ash, two ounces caustic soda, and one-half ounce of trisodium phosphate for each gallon of water. -The second electrolytic device I4, which is employed for the etching operation, is preferably supplied with a 6% solu- .tion of sulphuric acid and water.

trated in Figures 3 and 4. The roll 24 is disposed'in a position to direct the strip 1 horizontally between upper and lower grid type anodes 3l and 32 which are electrically connected with the sides of the tank by engagement with theangle bars 33 and 34 respectivel The grid type anode 3| preferably comprises a plurality of bars 32' which are flat on one side and convex on the sides disposed toward the strip 1. The bars 32 arerigidly connected together at one end by a longitudinally extending member 34', and at the other yend by an angle bar 35. One edge of the anode 3| is hingedly connected to the tank 22 by hinges 38, and the other edge is releasably retained in position by pins 31 passing through cooperating angle ele` ments 38 and 39 on the the tank respectively.

'I'he lower grid anode, designated as a whole by numeral 32, comprises a plurality of parallel laterally extending bars 4I., similar in shape to the bars of the upper anode but reversed in position to be also disposed with their convex faces towardthe strip 1. The .bars 4I are rigidly held in position by longitudinally extending angle eleand on the aide of ments 42 secured to the angle bars 34 on the sides of the tank by bolts 43. In order to prevent 'the strip 1 from engaging the anode bars 4I in case the strip shouldbecome slackenedvfor any reason, there is provided a plurality of rollers 45 having a covering 44 of suitable insulating material.

Thisrspeciiic construction of anode above described obviates polarization of the anodes andprovides space between the bars for the vpassage of particles of dust or other foreign materials which may find their way into the tank. For

supplying electric current to the anodes 3| and 32, they are electrically connected to the longitudinally extending bus bars 48 through the medium of the metallic side of the tank to which the bus bars 48 are rigidly attached by bolts 49 passing therethrough and through the horizontal ange of the reinforcing angle bar 21 at the upper edge of the tank.

The strip 1 of metal being processed, forms the cathode for the electrolytic process. For electrically connecting the strip 1 with a source of electrical energy, there is provided a bracket 5I having rigidly mounted thereon in a horizontal position a laterally extending rod 52 having a multiplicity of loosely mounted rings 53 thereon adapted to engage the strip 1 as the strip passes over a roller 54 disposed therebelow. The roller 54 is electrically connected to the bracket 5I by blocks 55 of conducting material which serve as supports for the roller 54 by engagement with pin-bearing elements 56. The rings 53 are adapted to roll upon the metal strip 1 and have sliding contact with the rod 52, and the rod 52 is electrically connected to bus bars 51 and 58 by strap conductors 59 and 60 which extend downwardly along the vertically extending arms of the bracket 5I and are engaged by the bolts 62 which extend into the ends of the rod 52. 'I'he bus bars 51 and 58 are also electrically connected together by strap conductors 64 passing under the tank as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The; bus bars 48 and 51 are adapted for connection with a suitable sourceof electric energy, preferably of a low potential and high current capacity.

' It will be understood that the electrolytic tank employed for the etching operation, together with the associated parts which are continuously exposed to the etching solution, vshould be constructed of material which willy` not readily be affected by the etching solution; for example, the parts of metal may be constructed of a nickel chromium alloy known as nichrome, or similar material which will serve the same purpose. Also, in the electrolytic apparatus employed for the etching operation, the metal strip is used as the anode and the grid electrodes are used as cathodes in order that metal will be removed from the strip during the operation.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the mechanism herein illustrated and described is susceptible oi various changes and modifications without departing from the principle of the invention. It is accordingly desired that the patent to be granted hereon shall not be limited in any manner except as necessitated bythe prior art.

I claim as my invention:

. 1. In apparatus of the class described, an electrolytic cell comprising a tank for containing an electrolyte, spaced upper and lower grid type electrodes of one sign adapted to' be submerged beneath said electrolyte, said upperelectrode being hingedly supported from one wall of said tank, an electrode of a dlil'erent sign for rolling contact with strip material and means for drawing strip material through said tank in spaced lrelation to and between said grid type electrodes and in rolling contact with said other electrode. 2. An electrode for continuous contact with traveling strip material comprising a rod, a plutact with said rod by the frictional drag of said rings on said traveling strip material. l

3. In an electrolytic cell, a pair ot vertically spaced rotatable members, a plurality ot rings vloosely mounted on the upper oi` said members. means for passing strip vmaterial between said rotatable members for continuous contact with said rings Aand means forpassxng an electric cux'.

'rial in spaced relation to said grid type electrodes and between said rotatable members for continuous contact with said rings and means for passing an electric current-throughgrid typev electrodes, an electrolyte contained Within said cell, said upper rod 'and said stripm'aterial.

5. In an electrolytic cell, posed grid type electrodes in spaced vertical relation to each other and hinges connecting the upper of said electrodes to a wallet said cell lwhereby said upper electrodes may be tilted upwardly. v

6. In an electrolytic-device, a pair of vertically spaced electrodes of the same polarity, means for a pair of superim-v guiding a strip of metal between said electrodes,

another electrode of the opposite polarity disposedV for rolling engagement with the strip of metal at a point spaced, horizontally from the ends of the first said electrodes, said other electrode comprising a horizontally disposed rod and a metallic ring loosely mounted on vsaid rod for posed for rolling engagement with said strip.

mLDOR A. FosBURG.

15 sliding contact therewith, lsaid ring being dis- 

